8 Fights Signed for WEC 51

Former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Mike Thomas
Brown will toe the line against the once-beaten Cole
Province at WEC
51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” on Sept. 30 at the 1stBank Center in
Broomfield, Colo. Eight matches are now official for the event,
which will air live on the Versus network.

Based at American Top Team, Brown has not competed since he was
knocked out by “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 finalist Manny
Gamburyan in a little more than two minutes at WEC 48 in April.
The 34-year-old Portland, Maine, native has not lost consecutive
fights in nearly six years. A potent ground fighter, Brown has
scored 13 of his 23 career victories by submission. Wins over
former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber
(twice), Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout Leonard
Garcia, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Jeff Curran
and ATT teammate Yves Edwards
anchor his resume.

Province needed just 54 seconds to submit Nick
Masters under the Bricktown Brawl banner two months ago. A
four-time national wrestling champion at the University of Central
Oklahoma, the 29-year-old has delivered each of his six victories
by submission. Province has not set foot inside the WEC cage since
he received a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic
Commission following a positive test for the anabolic steroid
Methasterone at WEC 42. He was flagged in wake of his decision
victory against former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Fredson
Paixao. The result of that bout was changed to a no contest by
the NSAC, which also fined Province $4,000. He claimed the positive
test was the result of a tainted supplement, which he used “on a
whim” to help him rehydrate.

A featherweight title match between defending champion Jose Aldo and
Gamburyan will headline WEC 51, along with an anticipated rematch
pairing Donald
Cerrone with former WEC lightweight titleholder Jamie
Varner. In addition, one-time WEC bantamweight king Miguel
Torres will answer the bell against Charlie
Valencia, as he tries to put the brakes on a two-fight losing
streak.